Dr. Luis Arencibia, M.D., FAAFP, FACCWS

“The bonus of being a medical doctor is that we have the privilege of being able to help others. No matter where I am in the world, my job is the same — to help people feel better.” –Dr. Luis Arencibia

After World War II, there was an unprecedented growth of sub specialization in the medical profession. To reverse the decline in general medicine, the specialty of family medicine was created in 1969. Family medicine doctors provide personal, front-line medical care for patients throughout the United States. Due to their extensive training, family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages — from newborns to seniors.

“Family doctors participate in integrated inpatient and outpatient learning,” says Dr. Luis R. Arencibia, the chief of staff at East Jefferson General Hospital. “We receive training in six major medical areas: pediatrics; obstetrics and gynecology; internal medicine; psychiatry and neurology; surgery; and community medicine. In addition to diagnosing and treating illnesses, family doctors provide preventive care, (routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening) and we counsel our patients on how to live healthier lives.”

As a board-certified family physician, Dr. Arencibia has served the greater New Orleans region for more than 13 years. “My primary goal is to establish an ongoing relationship with my patients with a focus on their integrated care,” he says. “Because as family doctors we see patients on a more consistent basis, we can help them manage their chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke and hypertension, diabetes, cancer and asthma. When a patient is referred to a sub-specialist, we can remain involved to help coordinate the patient’s overall wellness.”

Originally from Miami, Dr. Arencibia chose to pursue his medical practice in Louisiana after completing his residency training at EJGH. “My medical career officially began 45 days before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans,” he says. “This invaluable experience led to my interest in helping disaster victims and becoming a member of the DMAT (federal disaster medical assistance team), Delta-1.” His team is mobilized to provide acute medical care and to assist hospitals in the case of damaged infrastructure or overwhelming need.

Dr. Arencibia has since worked with disaster victims in Puerto Rico and Houston, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. His experience with disaster victims led him to pursue his wound care certification in 2011, and he now serves as the Vice-President of Clinical Affairs for Wound Care Specialist.

On why he became a family doctor: “My route to becoming a doctor was not traditional,” Dr. Arencibia says. “A family friend introduced me to the medical field, while I was running my father’s construction company in Miami. First, I went through EMT basic training to become a paramedic and that led to working as a physician’s assistant for a few years before I pursued medical school. I have always been interested in medicine and I truly love what I do.”

On a personal note: Dr. Arencibia has been married to his wife, Olga Marie, and he has two children — a 10-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. He enjoys playing guitar and coaching his son’s baseball team.

Residency: East Jefferson General Hospital
Doctor of Medicine: Spartan Health Sciences University
Residency in Family Medicine: East Jefferson General Hospital
Board Certification: Family Medicine and Wound Care